HB 4008
Establishes the Transit Funding Task Force and directs the task force to report to an interim committee of the Legislative Assembly related to transportation no later than December 1, 2026.
Jurisdiction
Oregon
Session
2026 Regular Session
At the request of
(at the request of House Interim Committee on Transportation)
Committee
Ways and Means
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Sign in to take actionPublic sentiment
Support
89%
Oppose
11%
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Bill overview
This bill establishes a Transit Funding Task Force to examine the state’s transportation needs and explore potential funding sources. The task force will include representatives from various sectors, such as transportation providers, businesses, and government agencies. It is tasked with determining the level of funding needed to maintain reliable and accessible transit services and reporting its findings and recommendations to an interim legislative committee by December 1, 2026. An emergency declaration allows the bill to take effect immediately.
Sponsors
Official sponsors from legislative records.
Primary sponsor
House Interim Committee on Transportation
Arguments in favor
Reasons to support this legislation.
Supporters of House Bill 4008 emphasize the need for Oregon to explore alternative funding options for transit, citing the success of pilot programs like the on-demand program in south Lane County. They stress that robust public transit is crucial due to growing population, limited access to cars among low-income and rural residents, and environmental concerns. Many testifiers highlight the devastating impact of reduced transit services on vulnerable populations, including seniors, disabled residents, and essential services. In addition, supporters advocate for a Transit Funding Task Force to address diverse transit needs across Oregon, promote science-informed action with a social justice lens, and ensure that funding is sustainable and equitable, ultimately supporting the state's economy, people's lives, and climate change mitigation efforts.
Source: Testimony Summaries
Arguments opposed
Reasons to oppose this legislation.
Opponents of HB 4008 express concerns about the bill's reliance on task forces, which they argue were not elected by Oregonians and therefore lack democratic accountability. They also contend that the proposed budget cuts would disproportionately harm vulnerable populations reliant on welfare state support. Additionally, some testifiers propose an alternative solution: requiring transit riders to pay 100% of operations costs, with public subsidies restricted to capital projects, which they believe would make transit more financially sustainable and address the transit funding crisis without relying on unaccountable task forces or drastic budget cuts.
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